Islamabad, Dec. 23 :
Islamabad, Dec. 23:
Pakistan's chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir has said that Pakistan's defence
forces were fully prepared to give a matching response in case of any misadventure from across the border, meaning India.
'There is nothing to be
worried about. Pakistan's armed forces are fully prepared,' he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a seminar titled 'Role of air power in the 21st century' at the Institute of Strategic Studies on Saturday.
'There is some military build-up and preparations across the eastern border and we are fully aware of the situation,' he said, adding that the commanders had been undertaking a series of brain-storming sessions to streamline strategies to effectively counter any misadventure from India.
Replying to a question whether India would carry out airstrikes on Kashmir, the air chief referred to the recent statements by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and his Cabinet colleagues that they had all the options to choose from. So, he said, 'we are vigilant and keeping vigil on all the latest happenings'.
'We are fully prepared and can take any challenge,' the air chief said when his attention was drawn to the recent military build-up by India.
Mir said India had 800 aircraft while Pakistan had 350, but 'our efficient force can overwhelm them.'
The air force chief added that Pakistan had just received 10 Chinese F7-PG aircraft and a similar number were expected next week. Another 20 aircraft were expected in a couple of months.
The first prototype of the Super-7 aircraft (a Sino-Pak joint venture being executed at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) would roll out by June 2003, while regular production was expected to begin in 2004-05, the air chief said.
'We are well aware that India had been preparing since the Kargil war and have inducted some new hardware and are in process of inducting some more. Seeing the situation, we have been making all out efforts to keep the minimum level
of deterrence in the nuclear and conventional sectors,' he said.
Referring to Pakistan-China relations, with special regard to defence, he said: 'We already have a number of pacts of strategic nature with our friendly countries, which have always been standing with us through thick and thin.'
Musharraf meeting
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is scheduled to hold a series of high level meetings with top military officials tomorrow to chalk out a defence and political strategy in the face of rising tensions with India.
Musharraf is expected to convene after his return from China tomorrow the Joint Chief of Staff Committee, a high-level military policy body that comprises the top brass of all three services, to review the situation on the border.
After the meeting, Musharraf is also expected to convene the National Security Council, which also comprises the top brass of the three services.
Later he is expected to call a meeting of the corps commanders followed by ground level commanders meeting to review the situation.





